Vehicle.



" C. L. NEDOMA.

r VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13' I916- ]Patented J an. 30, 1917.

adjacent parts.

CHARLES L. NEDOMA, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. so. lair.

' Application filed July 13, 1916. Serial No. 108,979.

whereby the weights of the sides of the frame are transmitted, respectively, to the opposite end portions of the axle, thusallowing a much greater length of spring than can be obtained in the customary arched constructions.

The invention also consists in-the details and arrangement of parts shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section just below the upper flanges of the side bars showing the springs. Fig. 3 is an elevation-0f one end of the front spring and view showing more clearly the manner in which the rear sprlng may be mounted on ,joined by bolts 12); wardly from the spring secured to the front axle in any suitable the brake housing. Fig. 5 is a vertical sec tion through'the front cross-bar showing the manner of attaching the torque rods thereto.

The side bars 1 of the frame are preferably of channel cross-section opening inwardly as shown and have their front ends 2 bent downwardly and joined by the cross bar 3 (preferably tubular). The front axle 5, rear axle housing 6 (including the differential housing 7) and propeller shaft casing 8 are of a type well known,-although these elements may be widely varied.

Surrounding the frontcross bar at substantially its central portion is a two-part socketed element 1011 (the parts being and extending forchairs 13, which are way, are the converging torque rods 14 that terminate in a common forwardly extending portion provided with the spherical head 16 which is received in the socket. At their rear ends the torque rods pass through the perforated bosses 17 on the spring chairs or brackets 13 and are secured by nuts 19.

the casing is Fig. 4 is a fragmentary The portion 11 of the socket elementhas a spherical outer face and is cut away at 20 to allow relative angular movements of the frame and torque rods; the opening thus formed is closed by the stamped metal casing 20 which is thrust against the member 11 by a compression spring 26, the rear end of which bears on a collar 28 rigid with the portion 15 of the torque rods. In use, filled with thick lubricant. Diagonal braces 29 may connect'the element 1011 to the front portions of the side bars.

At a point above the front axle, the side bars are joined bya downwardly opening channel member comprising two substantially parallel end portions 30 and an intermediate portion 31 at an angle thereto; the ends of the member 30-31 are joined to the respective side bars by angle brackets 32 and rivets or bolts 33 and 34: that pass, respectively, through the web and upper flange of the side bar. The end portions 30 of the channel member inclose the ends of springs 36 which are firmly held therein by shackles 38 or the likethese springs extend across beneath the opposite side bar and have their ends suspended on links 39 that are pivoted at 40 on the spring brackets 13. For the purpose of cushioning the lateral thrust, compression springs 42 are interposed betweensockets 43 and 1 1 formed, respectively, on the spring chairs and on the link members 39. The springs may be extended across the car on parallel lines, in which event the chairs 18 would be offset on opposite sides of the center line of the axle, or may be slightly curved, as shown, to bring them into proper relation to the alined chairs.

Similar springs 36 and associated elecal plane through the axle to avoid danger.

of the springs 36 striking the difierential housing. V

It will be observed that the springs are offset, both at front and rear, from the vertical planes through the axles.

The details of construction may obviously be changed within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited otherwise than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

claim l. A motor vehicle comprising a frame, a front axle, said frame extending forwardly past the front axle, resilient means extending longitudinally of the axle for supportmg the frame on the axle, tension meansv connecting the frame and axle, said tension means being capable of angular movement in respect to the frame, whereby stress on the frame, tending to drive it forwardly, is caused to pull the axle.

2. A motor vehicle comprising a frame, a front axle, said frame extending forwardly past the front axle, resilient means extending longitudinally of the axle for supporting the frame on the'axle, tension means connecting the frame and axle, said tension means being capable of universal angular movement in respect to the frame, whereby stress on the frame, tending to drive it forwardly, is caused to pull the axle.

3. A motor vehicle comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross bar, means extending longitudinally of the axle for resiliently supporting the side bars on the axle, and tension means for joining the outer portions of the axle to the cross bar, said tension means being capable of angular movement with respect .to the cross bar.

4. A motor vehicle comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross bar, means extending longitudinally of the axle for resiliently supporting the side bars on the axle, and tension means attached to the cross bar near the center thereof, said tension means also being attached to the axle near its outer ends and being capable of angular movement with respect to the cross bar, whereby stress on the side bars, tending to drive them forwardly, is caused to pull the axle.

5. A motor vehicle/comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross bar, means extending longitudinally of the axle for resiliently supporting the side bars on the axle, a second cross bar joining the side bars at a point substantially over the front axle, and tension means attached to the front cross bar and to the outer ends of the front axle whereby stress on theside bars, tending to drive them forwardly, is caused to null the axle.

' second cross-bar, sald 6. A motor vehicle comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross-bar, a second crossbar joining the side bars at a point substantially over the front axle, resilient means attached to said means extending longitudinally of the axle and being attached thereto near its ends, and tension means, capable of angular movement in respect to the front cross-bar, joining the outer ends of the front axle to an intermediate portion of the front crossbar whereby the thrust of the resilient means longitudinally of the axle is reduced.

7. A motor vehicle comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross-bar, a second cross-bar joining the side bars at a point substantially over the front axle, resilientmeans attached to said second cross-bar, said means extending longitudinally of the axle and being attached thereto near its ends, and tension means, capable of angular movement in respect to the front cross-bar, joining the outer ends of the front axle to an intermediate portion of the front cross-bar whereby the thrust of the resilient meanslongitudinally of the axle is reduced, and means for cushioning said longitudinal thrust of the resilient means.

8. A motor vehicle comprising a pair of side bars, a front cross bar joining the side bars, a front axle positioned to the rear of the cross bar, means extending longitudinally of the axle for resiliently supporting the side bars on the axle, and tension means for joining the outer portions of the axle to the cross bar, said tension means being capable of angular movement with respect to the cross bar and comprising a head, a socket in which the head is received, and a casing for sealing the joint between the head and the socket, whereby lubricant may be retained.

9. A motor vehicle comprising a frame, a front axle positionedrearwardly from the front end of the frame, ported on the axle and extending longitudinallythereof for supporting the front end of the frame, and tension means for joining the forward portion of the frame to the front axle, said tension means including a member whose horizontal projection extends at an angle to the axle whereby the thrust of the spring means longitudinally of the axle is reduced and whereby pulling force is ap plied from. said frame to said axle, said member being capable of angular movement in respect to the frame.

CHARLES L. NEDOMA.

spring means supv 

